$1.7 Billion Chemical Financial Corporation Merger Named Deal of the Year
Jeffrey A. Ott, a partner with the law firm Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, has again been named a finalist for Dealmaker of the Year by MiBiz.
Ott will be honored as a finalist in the Adviser category during a ceremony held at the Goei Center this evening. A transaction that he led within the past year, the $1.7 billion merger of Chemical Financial Corp. with Talmer Bancorp, will be honored as Deal of the Year in the $150 million-plus category.
He is one of 11 finalists in categories that recognize West Michigan’s Top Deals and Dealmakers, an annual event presented by MiBiz in cooperation with the Association for Corporate Growth West Michigan. Winners were determined based on best practices and excellence related to mergers, acquisitions and deal-making. Senior executives, attorneys and advisers served as judges.
During his nearly three decades as an attorney, Ott has led or worked on nearly 70 transactions, including the Chemical-Talmer merger, which brought together two leaders in the community banking industry in Michigan to form the largest banking company headquartered in the state.
When the transaction closed in August 2016, the combined company had $17.2 billion in assets, including $12.7 billion in loans and $12.7 billion in deposits. The combined bank, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has more than 200 banking locations in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana that employ more than 3,000 people.
His nomination read, in part: “The Chemical-Talmer merger has been the most complex transaction in Jeff’s professional history to date. He led a dream team of 30+ attorneys and legal professionals who provided counsel and support in areas ranging from corporate and securities law to real estate and tax. Jeff served as quarterback for the deal, helping to negotiate the transaction, prepare the merger and supporting documents and coordinate all the detail to allow the deal to close without issue in approximately eight months.”
A member of the firm’s Business and Corporate Services and Financial Services practice groups, Ott has represented businesses and financial institutions for nearly 30 years. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, compliance with securities laws and general corporate and business matters. He specializes in counseling publicly traded companies on strategic and compliance issues under federal and state securities laws. Additionally, he serves as the chair of the firm's Reporting Companies and Registered Offerings Group.
Active in the community, Ott is a trustee for Albion College and a board member for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. He served on the board of directors for Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding in Rockford for 20 years, including six years as president.
About Warner
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